THE MILITARY’S GUARD GEESE MAY HAVE SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES; HERE’S HOW
With all espionage missions (or at least the ones in the movies), there’s always some sort of plan to get past the guards in order to complete the mission. But what if the guards weren’t human? What if they were guard geese? The U.S. military used guard geese for a period during the Cold War because of their natural skills in guarding. So, why are geese so effective at guarding? What does a goose sound like when it’s been alerted? Keep reading to learn more. See more:Project Pigeon: The Unbelievable History of War Pigeons That Guided Missiles
Guard Geese: The Craziest True Story Ever
Geese as guard animals might sound ridiculous at first, but once you learn about the history of guard geese as well as the benefits of using them, it starts to make a little more sense.
The History of Guard Geese
Are geese good guard animals? History says yes! Several historical accounts date their use back to the Roman Republic during the Battle of Allia. Around 390 B.C., the Gallic army was invading Northern Italy and made it almost all the way to Rome, about 10 miles shy of it. The Gallic army was proving to be incredibly successful in taking over Rome. The one place where the Roman army and their allies were able to stand their ground was Capitoline Hill. The soldiers of the Gallic army struggled to take on Capitoline Hill in a direct fight, so they tried other methods. They attempted to attack during the cover of darkness, but they were thwarted by a bunch of geese. The Gallic army attempted to start their assault near the Temple of Juno, the Roman goddess that protected the Roman state. Near this temple, however, were flocks of geese. Though not necessarily meant to be guard geese, once the geese became aware of the Gallic army, the honking goose sounds and the fluttering of their wings alerted the Romans and dismayed the Gallic army from their attempt at take-over. Because of their efforts, the geese were elevated to divine status and were allowed to make the Temple of Juno their home.
Guard Geese in the Cold War
History proved that the use of geese for guarding can be successful, so the U.S. implemented them during the Cold War. They were stationed at several places throughout Europe. The U.S. Army’s 32nd Air Defense Command began its initial investigation into the use of guard geese with a distillery in Scotland. The unit’s commander, Major General Victor J. Hugo Jr., came up with the idea and sent his aide, Captain David Thomas, to the Ballantine whisky distillery. The distillery began using the geese in 1959. The U.S. Army’s 32nd Air Defense Command was impressed with the geese and implemented them in their own practices. They began with 18 as a test but eventually expanded to 900. There’s no definitive proof that the guard geese actually did anything, however. The geese were definitely loud; this means that either the geese did their jobs at warding intruders away or the geese were just noisy. But regardless, guard geese can be an effective method of deterring any potential intruders.
Why Geese?
So, why geese? In terms of farming, geese are great weeders, produce yummy eggs, and they can make a very delicious roast for Christmas dinner. But the military implemented guard geese for a different reason. Geese are incredibly loud. What sound does a goose make? A very loud honking noise, and sometimes even hissing. In theory, if an intruder encountered a tactical goose and the goose started honking and hissing, that should be enough to ward off any intruder and alert those wanting protection. That would definitely get our attention! Additionally, geese have incredible eyesight and hearing. Geese are able to see ultraviolet light, and they can see in much finer detail than humans. Geese can also control each eye separately, making them better at spotting predators. On top of this already impressive list proving their guarding capabilities, they’re also incredibly territorial and tend to stay close to their nesting areas, which they are very protective over. They’re also incredibly loyal and learn to recognize other animals (like humans) as members of their own flocks. Knowing all these things about geese makes it a no-brainer that they could become guard geese.
Guard Geese Breeds
There are dozens of breeds of geese, but there are a few that are the best for guarding. The best guard geese breeds are Tufted Roman, Saddleback Pomeranian, and Chinese. All of these geese are incredibly noisy and will start honking at any sign of trouble. Guard geese have been used for hundreds of years and can be an incredible asset in defense systems. With the goose’s natural tendency to be noisy, they are excellent at warding intruders away. See more:The Legendary Chicken Gun Is the Ultimate Quality Control Test for Military Planes
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